Belfast Agreement: Ethnicity

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 13 May (WA 119) about use of "ethnicity" in the Belfast Agreement of 1998, who is responsible for defining an individual's ethnicity.

Lord Rooker: Any ruling on the meaning or proper interpretation of the relevant sections of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 or the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 would be for tribunals or courts to make in the event of a complaint or legal action.

Consumer Credit

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will include controls on consumer credit in the proposed savings gateway Bill announced in their draft legislative programme for 2008-09; and
	What plans they have to include controls on excessive lending to vulnerable customers in the proposed banking reform Bill, announced in their draft legislative programme for 2008-09; and
	What representations they have recently received about the control of credit and bank loans being managed by instruments other than interest rates.

Baroness Vadera: There are no plans to include controls on lending to customers in the proposed banking reform or saving gateway Bills.
	In 2004 the Government put in place Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulation of mortgages. The FSA's regime offers appropriate consumer protection—for example, by requiring that firms satisfy themselves that a mortgage commitment is affordable. The OFT regulates other consumer credit business. Regulation of consumer credit is being further strengthened with the implementation of the Consumer Credit Act 2006, due to be completed by October 2008. This Act has, among other measures, strengthened the OFT's ability to investigate and take action against firms which lend irresponsibly. The OFT will bring forward guidance on irresponsible lending later this year.
	The Government maintain a regular dialogue with the financial services industry and other interested parties with the aim of promoting responsible lending practices. For example, BERR has established an expert working group to examine proposals to enable lenders to share more data on historic credit accounts, with the aim of preventing at-risk consumers becoming overindebted.

Crime: Burglary

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many burglaries have been recorded in each of the past three years in south Belfast; how many people have been convicted for these offences; and what are the statistical trends in this area in relation to the sentencing level for multiple offences.

Lord Rooker: Table 1 gives the number of burglary offences recorded in south Belfast police district command unit, while table 2 gives the number of convictions relating to the same area. Data in tables 1 and 2 should not however be compared, for three reasons. First, data in table 1 refer to the DCU in which the burglary was recorded, while table 2 refers to the DCU in which an offender's address falls. Secondly, an offence recorded as burglary may subsequently be prosecuted on a different basis—eg, as theft. Thirdly, conviction data are collated on the principal offence rule, where only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	Because of the principal offence rule, it is not possible to identify those offenders convicted of multiple offences of burglary and any subsequent sentencing trends. It is only possible to give sentencing information for those offenders for whom burglary was the principal offence.
	Table 1 covers the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08, while table 2 covers the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest available years).
	The Government are giving particular attention to the problem of burglary in Northern Ireland. In 2007-08, a total of 11,698 burglary offences were recorded by police in Northern Ireland, which represents a net 37 per cent drop in the level of burglary since 2002-03 (when 18,659 offences were recorded). During the same period, the number of domestic burglaries recorded by the police decreased by 34 per cent, from 10,125 to 6,712. These reductions largely correspond with the timing of a NIO PSA target to reduce the recorded level of domestic burglary between 2001-02 and 2006-07, the final outturn of which showed levels of burglary down 25 per cent, well ahead of the 15 per cent target.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of burglary offences recorded in south Belfast police district command unit 2005-06 to 2007-08 
			 Year Number recorded 
			 2005-06 1,242 
			 2006-07 1,188 
			 2007-08 1,241 
			 Source:PSNI, Central Statistics Unit 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of convictions, method of disposal and the average immediate custodial sentence length (in months) for burglary for south Belfast police district command unit 2004-20061 
			  2004 2005 2006 
			 Number of convictions 25 35 20 
			 1. Average sentence lengths exclude those justice centre order 
			 Source: NIO, Statistics and Research Branch

Data Loss: Police Inquiries

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What audit trails are in place for material handed over by the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC or the Police Service of Northern Ireland to inquiries that are being or have been conducted.

Lord Rooker: The PSNI has strict security arrangements in place with the independent public inquiries. Depending on the level of classification of the documentation, the material is either hand-delivered or sent via courier or recorded delivery, with the relevant inquiry signing and confirming receipt of all documents. I am informed that the inquiries also maintain records of documents they receive.

e-Borders

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the Government's estimates for the total cost of the e-borders programme when the project received initial ministerial approval; and what they are now.

Lord West of Spithead: The strategic benefits endorsed by David Blunkett in the White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven in February 2002 led to the formation of the e-borders programme. Initial estimates in November 2003 of the costs for this were £959 million, with possible further contingency costs to a maximum of £1.336 billion, which included both capital and resource costings. Current forecasts for the total cost of the e-borders programme are £1.2 billion.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 March (WA 44) and 21 April (WA 233-34), why outgrowing mouse embryos have been used as a model of implantation in published studies if the intrinsic nature of outgrowing embryos is to lack potential and be unable to develop if implanted; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 2 June (WA 10), at what point an outgrowing embryo either ceases to be living, ceases to be human or ceases to be an embryo; and what criteria are used by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority during an inspection to determine that this point has been reached within 14 days; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 14 May (WA 135), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has authorised the culture of whole human embryos beyond 14 days to form outgrowths for the creation of stem cells.

Lord Darzi of Denham: Applications for embryo research licences are considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's (HFEA) Research Licence Committee (which will refer to advice from the authority's Scientific and Clinical Advances Group). It will consider whether the proposed method for embryo culture and stem cell derivation complies with Sections 3(3)(a) and (4) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1900 (HFE Act).
	When human embryos are allowed to attach to the surface of a culture dish and outgrow their structure, it is not a breach of Sections 3(3)(a) and (4) of the HFE Act 1990.
	The HFEA has not licensed the use of mouse embryos as a model of implantation regarding this issue. When considering this issue, the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Group found no published studies regarding the transfer of these outgrowing entities to the womb of any mammal. The view of the group was that the aim of culturing cells in this way is to attempt to create stem cell lines and there is consensus among the scientific community that it is not possible for these entities to achieve a pregnancy.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 5 December 2007 (WA 195—96) and 18 December 2007 (WA 116—17) and his letter dated 14 January 2008, what protocol has been developed following more regular reviews of egg collection data by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and what concerns have been raised with the General Medical Council.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has committed to carrying out a review of all information it collects from centres, particularly to take account of the implications of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. As part of this it expects to have a protocol complete by December 2008. The HFEA has a Memorandum of Understanding with the General Medical Council, but has not to date reported any concerns.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 5 December 2007 (WA 195—96) and 18 December 2007 (WA 116—17) and his letter dated 14 January, what proportion of eggs were used in either research or egg-sharing arrangements at each of the respective licensed centres where between 20 and 85 eggs were retrieved from women per in vitro fertilisation cycle.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The information requested is not collected centrally nor held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Information giving the percentage of eggs donated to research and to egg-sharing arrangements is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Data on eggs donated to research or egg sharing arrangements where between 20-85 eggs were collected (1) (2) (3) 
			 Centre code Name Cycles where at least 1 egg has been collected Cycles where 20 - 85 eggs have been collected Patients where 20 - 85 eggs have been collected in a single cycle Percentage of all egg collections where 20 - 85 eggs were collected Egg share cycles where 20 - 85 eggs have been collected Percentage of cycles where 20 - 85 eggs were collected that were egg share cycles Total eggs collected in egg share cycles where between 20 and 85 eggs were collected Eggs donated for treatment of others in egg share cycles where between 20 and 85 eggs were collected Percentage of eggs collected in egg share cycles (where 20 - 85 eggs were collected) that were donated for the treatment of other patients Total eggs collected in cycles where between 20 and 85 eggs were collected and some were donated to research Eggs donated for research where between 20 and 85 eggs were collected Percentage of eggs collected in cycles where 20 - 85 eggs were collected and some were donated to research 
			 0003 The BUPA Roding Hospital 76 1 1 1.3% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0004 Ninewells Hospital 2565 163 155 6.4% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0005 Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine 985 66 57 6.7% 11 16.7% 282 134 47.5% 0 0 ++ 
			 0006 The Lister Fertility Clinic 8390 634 563 7.6% 50 7.9% 1143 670 58.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0007 Hewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine 5717 379 357 6.6% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0008 Midland Fertility Services 4079 492 450 12.1% 60 12.2% 1558 730 46.9% 20 10 ++ 
			 0013 Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Coventry 2330 183 172 7.9% 1 0.5% 31 16 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0015 Sussex Downs Fertility Centre 675 41 40 6.1% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0016 CARE Northampton 2295 137 127 6.0% 16 11.7% 389 204 52.4% 0 0 ++ 
			 0017 Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life 3314 306 256 9.2% 9 2.9% 217 91 41.9% 177 37 20.9% 
			 0019 Aberdeen Fertility Centre 2053 91 88 4.4% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0021 Hull IVF Unit 1350 117 107 8.7% 4 3.4% 97 48 49.5% 0 0 ++ 
			 0024 Centre for Reproductive Medicine, University of Bristol 3336 185 170 5.5% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0025 University Hospital Aintree 387 5 5 1.3% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0026 BMI Priory Hospital 1690 104 96 6.2% 10 9.6% 212 102 48.1% 0 0 ++ 
			 0028 BMI Ross Hall Hospital 449 33 32 7.3% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0030 Herts and Essex Fertility Centre 3252 315 280 9.7% 11 3.5% 324 160 49.4% 0 0 ++ 
			 0031 Hartlepool General Hospital 406 4 4 1.0% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0032 Southmead Hospital 369 55 44 14.9% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0033 Manchester Fertility Services LTD 2068 227 208 11.0% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0035 Oxford Fertility Unit 4693 355 315 7.6% 88 24.8% 2218 391 17.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0037 Glasgow Royal Infirmary 3735 277 255 7.4% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0044 UCH London 1776 111 102 6.3% 2 1.8% 54 27 50.0% 68 4 5.9% 
			 0049 IVF Wales 2002 144 132 7.2% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0052 Clarendon Wing - Leeds 6216 1160 1013 18.7% 2 0.2% 41 31 ++ 43 25 ++ 
			 0055 The James Cook University Hospital 1409 48 47 3.4% 1 ++ 20 13 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0057 Wessex Fertility Limited 2085 162 153 7.8% 10 6.2% 227 123 54.2% 0 0 ++ 
			 0058 Edinburgh Assisted Conception Unit 706 23 23 3.3% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0059 London Women's Clinic, Swansea 1482 99 81 6.7% 56 56.6% 1310 688 52.5% 0 0 ++ 
			 0061 CARE Sheffield 2155 21 21 1.0% 7 ++ 149 82 55.0% 0 0 ++ 
			 0063 Assisted Conception Unit, St James' University Hospital - Leeds 3444 627 532 18.2% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0064 The Chiltern Hospital Fertility Services Unit 753 69 63 9.2% 11 15.9% 292 136 46.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0065 Salford Royal IVF and Fertility Centre 175 7 7 4.0% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0067 St Mary's Hospital 3119 346 322 11.1% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 141 22 15.6% 
			 0068 Leicester Fertility Centre 992 68 67 6.9% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0069 Middle England Fertility Centre 380 14 14 3.7% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0070 The Bridge Centre 6102 209 190 3.4% 14 6.7% 313 199 63.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0071 CARE Wirral 196 6 6 3.1% 2 ++ 46 23 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0073 The Portland Hospital Fertility Unit 345 7 7 2.0% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0074 Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre, London 1489 184 162 12.4% 94 51.1% 2269 1147 50.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0075 London Women's Clinic, Darlington 999 157 124 15.7% 95 60.5% 2333 1157 49.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0076 NURTURE 1931 124 110 6.4% 31 25.0% 721 361 50.1% 0 0 ++ 
			 0077 Regional Fertility Centre, Belfast 4749 362 326 7.6% 3 0.8% 78 38 48.7% 0 0 ++ 
			 0078 IVF Hammersmith 5308 396 360 7.5% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 128 19 14.8% 
			 0082 Newham General 256 8 8 3.1% 3 ++ 64 32 50.0% 0 0 ++ 
			 0086 BMI Chelsfield Park ACU 1858 259 214 13.9% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0088 London Fertility Centre 3387 473 421 14.0% 3 0.6% 74 58 78.4% 0 0 ++ 
			 0094 The Centre for Reproductive Medicine 3295 143 141 4.3% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0100 Bourn Hall Clinic 4845 463 434 9.6% 21 4.5% 523 268 51.2% 0 0 ++ 
			 0101 CARE Nottingham 5716 404 366 7.1% 57 14.1% 1312 651 49.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0102 Guys Hospital 4093 509 453 12.4% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0105 London Women's Clinic 1459 118 102 8.1% 26 22.0% 623 317 50.9% 0 0 ++ 
			 0109 Assisted Conception Unit, King's College Hospital 3420 484 416 14.2% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0115 Glasgow Nuffield Hospital 1550 75 73 4.8% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 25 2 ++ 
			 0119 Birmingham Women's Hospital 2648 379 348 14.3% 68 17.9% 1777 878 49.4% 0 0 ++ 
			 0133 The Winterbourne Hospital 1234 66 63 5.3% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0139 Bath Fertility Clinic 1482 192 159 13.0% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0143 London Female And Male Fertility Centre 251 24 21 9.6% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0144 The Woking Nuffield Hospital 2054 173 160 8.4% 4 2.3% 102 50 49.0% 0 0 ++ 
			 0148 Shropshire and Mid-Wales Fertility Centre 473 64 56 13.5% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0153 Homerton University Hospital 903 17 16 1.9% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0157 Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre 3788 552 502 14.6% 1 0.2% 33 11 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0158 Chelsea & Westminster Hospital 1717 115 104 6.7% 1 0.9% 30 10 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0161 BMI The Chaucer Hospital 1365 100 90 7.3% 3 3.0% 73 37 50.7% 0 0 ++ 
			 0164 The Hampshire Clinic 132 7 7 5.3% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0165 Brentwood Fertility Centre 1177 50 45 4.2% 13 26.0% 308 152 49.4% 0 0 ++ 
			 0170 Centre for Assisted Reproduction, Gateshead 748 75 61 10.0% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0174 Wolverhampton Assisted Conception Unit 139 36 34 25.9% 1 ++ 28 9 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0177 Diana, Princess of Wales Centre for Repro Medicine 703 77 69 11.0% 5 6.5% 110 47 42.7% 0 0 ++ 
			 0179 South West Centre for Reproductive Medicine 1032 84 79 8.1% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0180 Willow Suite, Thames Valley Nuffield Hospital 608 15 15 2.5% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0181 ACU, Lifestyle Sandy Lane Clinic 412 35 35 8.5% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0184 Burton Hospitals NHS Trust 894 56 50 6.3% 9 16.1% 244 120 49.2% 0 0 ++ 
			 0185 CARE Manchester 2876 372 318 12.9% 112 30.1% 2826 1454 51.5% 0 0 ++ 
			 0186 The Harley Street Fertility Centre 1258 98 93 7.8% 2 2.0% 42 13 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0188 Isis Fertility Centre 947 28 27 3.0% 3 ++ 67 33 49.3% 0 0 ++ 
			 0196 Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Fertility, Sheffield 1362 19 18 1.4% 2 ++ 44 21 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0197 Salisbury Fertility Centre 188 35 33 18.6% 11 ++ 285 142 49.8% 0 0 ++ 
			 0198 St Jude's Women's Hospital 366 64 57 17.5% 1 1.6% 36 16 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0199 CRM London 822 92 86 11.2% 43 46.7% 1015 503 49.6% 0 0 ++ 
			 0200 Origin Fertility Care 409 29 28 7.1% 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0201 Edinburgh Assisted Conception Unit 1639 91 84 5.6% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 215 33 15.3% 
			 0206 Reproductive Genetics Institute 1542 119 108 7.7% 0 0.0% 0 0 ++ 0 0 ++ 
			 0208 South East Fertility Clinic 250 26 25 10.4% 2 ++ 42 20 ++ 0 0 ++ 
		
	
	Source: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
	Notes:
	1. Data as at 9 June 2008.
	2. Data on egg sharing and eggs donated for research have been routinely collected from 1 April 1999 only. The above data cover the period 2000-05 inclusive.
	3.++ percentages are not given where there are less than 50 cycles or eggs.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 January (WA 28), 19 March (WA 44), 21 April (WA 233-34) and 9 June (WA 80), how each of the different classes of human admixed embryos described in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill could legally be cultured to form outgrowths beyond 14 days.

Lord Darzi of Denham: It will be for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to form a view, taking account of the detail of the specific research proposal at the time, on how each of the different classes of human admixed embryos described in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill could legally be cultured to form outgrowths beyond 14 days.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 9 June (WA 80), which serious diseases might be better understood and treated by injection of human sperm into an animal egg (or vice versa) followed by development of an embryo beyond the two-cell stage; whether any evidence supporting the use of true hybrids submitted to the relevant select committees has been or is expected to be published in research literature; and which species might be sufficiently closely related to humans so that chromosomal differences would not necessarily prevent successful hybridisation; and
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 9 June (WA80-81), whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority would in any circumstances consider the mixing of human genetic material with gametes from other ape species as necessary or desirable, and whether the authority will be renamed to take account of its remit over the creation and use of true hybrids.

Lord Darzi of Denham: Under the provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, the mixing of human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with animal gametes will not fall to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to be regulated unless the human DNA is in the form of a human gamete or the process of mixing the DNA results in an embryo where the animal DNA does not predominate. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill does not change the name of the HFEA.
	The use of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection to generate true hybrids to be grown beyond the two-cell stage could be of use in the understanding of serious mitochondrial diseases. No project of research may be licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority unless it is satisfied that research is necessary or desirable for one of the statutory purposes set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and the use of an embryo is necessary. It is unknown whether any species of animal's gametes could successfully undergo "hybridisation" with a human gamete. The closer an animal is to humans in evolutionary terms, the more likely there would be success, but humans are significantly more advanced than any other species of animal, making the chances of successful "hybridisation" with any species low, no matter how closely related they are to humans.

Freedom of Information

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many freedom of information requests have been made to the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service; how many are outstanding; how many were refused; and how many were granted.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The figures for the number of freedom of information requests made to the Public Prosecution Service are shown in the table below. At present there are no outstanding requests. The PPS has not refused any requests. In a number of cases the information requested was deemed to be exempt under the freedom of information legislation.
	
		
			  2006 2007 2008 (to date) 
			 FOI Requests Received 49 21 14 
			 Information Exempt 7 9 5 
			 Information Provided 42 12 9

Freedom of Information

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated cost incurred by the Department for Work and Pensions in answering freedom of information requests from the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, including civil servant time.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: My department does not hold information on estimated costs of responding to individual requests. Complying with the Freedom of Information Act does not require compilation of such estimates.

Government: Draft Legislative Programme

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What analysis they have made of the public response to their draft legislative programme for 2008-09, Preparing Britain for the Future, published on 14 May.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The consultation period for the draft legislative programme is open until 6 August, after which the Government will produce a summary of responses in the autumn. In the mean time, the Government are actively engaging with the public through events in each region and encouraging responses to be submitted through the website of the Leader of the House of Commons.

Health: MRSA

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the identification of three persons in Scotland infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus type ST398, whether they will consult (a) the relevant authorities in the Netherlands, and (b) the Soil Association about the transfer of bacteria from animals to humans, in particular through meat.

Lord Darzi of Denham: We are already working with Dutch and other European colleagues on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ST398 and the information from Scotland will help to inform these discussions. We do not have routine contact with the Soil Association, but it is welcome to submit any new evidence that it has on this issue to the Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections.

Health: Nurses

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many trained nurses there are in the National Health Service compared to 2001.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The national workforce census shows that in 2007 there were 399,597 qualified nursing, health visiting and midwifery staff working in the National Health Service in England. In 2001 the census recorded 350,381 qualified nursing, health visiting and midwifery staff. This is an increase of 49,216 qualified nursing staff or 14 per cent.

Health: Waiting Lists

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes have been made since 2005 to waiting list times.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The average median waiting time for in-patient treatment has fallen from 8.3 weeks in April 2005 to 4.0 weeks in April 2008. The average median waiting time for first consultant-led out-patient appointment has fallen from 4.4 weeks to 2.2 weeks over the same period.
	Referral to treatment data were published for the first time in March 2007 for admitted patients and in August 2007 for non-admitted patients. These data show that 48 per cent of patients admitted for treatment and 76 per cent of non-admitted patients started treatment within 18 weeks from referral. Latest figures for March 2008 show 87 per cent of admitted patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks and 93 per cent of non-admitted patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks.
	By the end of December 2008, no patient will have to wait more than 18 weeks from the time they are referred by their general practitioner for treatment unless they choose to do so, or it is clinically appropriate.

Immigration: Breastfeeding

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice is given regarding breastfeeding to mothers with small infants who are held in immigration detention centres with a view to removal; and what is the practice of the Border and Immigration Agency on the removal of mothers with small infants to countries where malaria is prevalent.

Lord West of Spithead: Healthcare provision within removal centres ensures that all detainees, including nursing mothers, are provided with access to the same quality of service and advice as they would receive from the NHS.
	Malaria prophylaxis is available upon recommendation of healthcare staff to mothers with small infants being removed to countries where malaria is prevalent and the UK Border Agency will allow sufficient time for the treatment to take effect before they travel.
	A copy of the instructions for operational officers on the provision of malaria prophylaxis is available on the UK Border Agency's website.

Indonesia: Religious Minorities

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of Indonesia about toleration of and effective protection for the Ahmadiyya religious minorities.

Lord Malloch-Brown: On 3 June, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Meg Munn, raised parliamentary and public concern about the situation of the Ahmadiyya community with the Indonesian ambassador. Our ambassador in Jakarta raised the matter with the Indonesian authorities on 28 April. The EU also expressed concern to the Indonesian authorities on 28 May. At the UN Human Rights Council's examination of Indonesia under the universal periodic review in Geneva on 9 April, the UK raised the treatment of the Ahmadiyya community. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and look for opportunities to raise the issue of respect for religious freedom with the Indonesian authorities.

Northern Ireland Office: Mobile Phones

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 23 April (WA 304) concerning the Northern Ireland Office contracts for mobile phones, what are the terms of the contract with O2, including the cost.

Lord Rooker: The cost of the contract for the provision of mobile phones with O2 (UK) Ltd during the financial year 2007-08 was £3,268.90. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was meant by the spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office quoted in the Irish News of 29 April concerning the appointment of the chairman of the Bill of Rights Forum in saying the appointment was in line with relevant guidance; what was that guidance; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of all related documentation.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my written answer of 3 March 2008, Official Report, col. WA 160, in which I said that the Bill of Rights Forum is classed, according to guidance from the Cabinet Office, as a non-statutory, ad hoc advisory group.
	This guidance is available on the Cabinet Office website at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/appointments.asp.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 155) concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, what are the rules governing when a letter is to be sent as a result of a Parliamentary Question.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given today, 19 June, (HL2518).
	When a letter is sent as a result of a Parliamentary Question it is customary to place a copy of the letter in Hansard.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why some Written Answers about the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are substantive and others advise the questioner to write to the commission; and what is their policy in this area.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission remains independent of government. Where Questions relate to our sponsorship of the commission, including its mandate as set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and its budget as allocated by the Northern Ireland Office, we will attempt to provide as substantive a response as possible.
	Where a Question refers to a policy or operational matter of the commission, I will ask the noble Lord to take this up directly with it. I am advised that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is happy to discuss any concerns, either in person or in writing.

Northern Ireland: Murder Prosecutions

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 12 May (WA 114) concerning murders of Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment soldiers, whether the fact that in 15 of the 203 cases work has been completed means that no further investigations are to be held.

Lord Rooker: In relation to the 15 cases referred to in my written response to the noble Lord on 12 May, there are no current plans for further reinvestigation.
	The remaining 188 cases that have yet to be completed will continue to be investigated, and will undergo the same process as the 15 cases that have been completed.

Parades: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What have been the contractual arrangements of members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since its creation in respect of paying their national insurance and income tax; and who paid these charges.

Lord Rooker: The Secretary of State, in accordance with the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, appoints the members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission. For the purposes of tax and national insurance contributions, commissioners were initially treated as being self-employed. Since 2006, the NIO pays all commissioners through the NIO payroll with tax deducted at source. This follows clarification of the commissioners' status in 2006.

Parades: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what the £37,519 allocated to other expenditure during 2006-07 in section 3 of the annual report of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission was spent.

Lord Rooker: The rounded breakdown of "Other expenditure" was as follows:
	
		
			 Grants for initiatives £17,000 
			 Upgrade of servers/computer maintenance £11,400 
			 Postage/materials/office services £7,400 
			 Miscellaneous expenditure £1,700

Parades: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why a Northern Ireland Office spokesman said in a Belfast newsletter on 31 May that the Northern Ireland Office had no knowledge whether Northern Ireland parades commissioners had paid income tax since 1997 but that the Northern Ireland Office had paid nearly £500,000 to HM Revenue and Customs to cover their taxes anyway; and, if the statement is accurate, whether the Comptroller and Auditor-General was informed.

Lord Rooker: The department understood that the parades commissioners should be treated as though they were self-employed. However, following clarification from HM Revenue and Customs, the department accepted that the commissioners should have been treated as office holders and taxed at source. For this reason, the department was required to make a payment to HM Revenue and Customs. The department has no reason to believe that individual commissioners have not paid their respective tax liabilities. In accordance with the relevant legislation, the Comptroller and Auditor-General examines, certifies and reports on the accounts of the Parades Commission.

Parades: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what the £205,224 noted in the 2006-07 annual report of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission as "Commission's expenses" was spent.

Lord Rooker: I have been informed by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission that the commission's expenses, as contained in the narrative to Note 2 to the Accounts, is the collective cost and is shown alongside the corresponding figure for 2005-06 for comparative purposes. The figure includes the costs of office rates, accommodation, telecommunications, car park rental, conference fees, and official cars.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have been recruited to the Police Service of Northern Ireland since 1 January; and what is the total strength of the force presently.

Lord Rooker: The chief constable has advised that, to date, 191 regular officers have been appointed since 1 January. As at 5 June 2008 there were 7,358 regular officers.

Prisons: Broadmoor

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What structured programmes there are for the treatment of mentally disordered violent offenders at Broadmoor Hospital; and
	How many dangerous and severely mentally disordered offenders have been (a) admitted to, and (b) held in Broadmoor Hospital in each of the past five years; and
	What, during each of the past five years, has been (a) the complement of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists (whether fully qualified or in training) at Broadmoor Hospital; (b) the number of such professionals who have commenced working there; and (c) the number who have ceased to work there.

Lord Darzi of Denham: Information about treatment programmes at Broadmoor Hospital is not collected centrally. Decisions about treatment are a matter for the clinicians responsible for the individual patient's care.
	Information about the number of dangerous and severely mentally disordered offenders admitted to and held in Broadmoor Hospital is not collected centrally. However, information is available about the number of high secure beds commissioned by the National Health Service. The latest available information is for 2006-07. The following table shows the number of high secure beds commissioned at Broadmoor Hospital from 2002-03 to 2006-07.
	
		
			 Number of high secure beds commissioned by the NHS at Broadmoor Hospital 
			 Year 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 
			 Beds 408 360 408 416 273 
			 Source:  NHS service level agreements 
		
	
	Information about the complement of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists at Broadmoor Hospital is not collected centrally. Workforce information is held at NHS trust level. Broadmoor Hospital is part of West London Mental Health NHS Trust. The following table shows numbers of qualified non-medical psychotherapy staff and numbers of medical staff within the psychiatry group of specialties, by specialty, within West London Mental Health NHS Trust.
	
		
			 NHS Hospital and Community Health Services: Qualified non-medical psychotherapy staff and medical staff within the psychiatry group of specialties, by specialty, within West London Mental Health NHS Trust 
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 
			 Non-medical staff: Qualified psychotherapy staff 33 36 32 30 27 
			 Medical staff: Psychiatry group 208 236 242 252 259 
			 Child and adolescent psychiatry 23 29 27 27 33 
			 Forensic psychiatry 85 86 96 106 102 
			 General psychiatry 64 77 78 83 87 
			 Old age psychiatry 22 25 25 24 24 
			 Psychotherapy 14 19 16 12 13 
			 Source: The Information Centre for health and social care medical and dental workforce census 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Staff numbers (headcount) as at 30 September each year
	2. West London Mental Health NHS Trust was created in 2001 from a merger of Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health NHS Trust and Broadmoor Hospital Authority
	Information is not available about professionals who have commenced working at Broadmoor Hospital or West London Mental Health NHS Trust and those who have ceased to work there.

Prisons: Maghaberry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what terms they gave the makers of BBC Northern Ireland's "Life Inside" programme complete freedom to interview anywhere and anyone inside Maghaberry prison; whether that decision was made on the basis of a defined and agreed social, penal or public objective or benefit; and, if so, what objective or benefit was intended; and
	What were the additional administrative costs and the costs of guarding and escorting people arising from the making of BBC Northern Ireland's "Life Inside" programme at Maghaberry prison; and whether BBC Northern Ireland has made a contribution to defray expenses.

Lord Rooker: The intention of the programme-makers was to portray the normalisation of prison life in Northern Ireland after the Troubles, and to give the audience a fresh perspective on the complex and challenging issues faced on a daily basis. The series featured all three prison establishments and the Prison Service did not exercise any editorial control in relation to the programme content.
	The production crew of three people scheduled their observational filming and interviews with staff and prisoners around the prison regime. This ensured that there was no adjustment in staff complements. Participation was completely voluntary and all prisoners and members of staff who were interviewed gave prior written consent. Written consent was also given by other individuals appearing on camera, and where this was not possible, their images were pixilated.
	The Prison Service incurred no additional administrative costs through the making of the production.

Prosecution: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the target for the length of time between case papers being received by the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service from the police and a decision being made on prosecution; whether this target differs for different types of case; and whether it is being met.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In order to reduce avoidable delay in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, Ministers have required the Criminal Justice Board to develop performance standards to be achieved by 31 March 2011. These were announced in June 2007 and comprise three of the five KPI targets contained in the Government's Justice for All Public Service Agreement. These standards commenced in April 2008 but a shadow trial was carried out for the year 2007-08. The achievement of targets is kept under close supervision by the Criminal Justice Board and Ministers. The figures given refer only to the Public Prosecution Service and are provisional. The periods allowed by the standards reduce over the next three years and will be kept under review to ensure that they continue to challenge the agencies further to improve performance. The desired standard for 2011 is also shown. The figures shown are in days.
	
		
			 Crown Court: Charge Cases 
			 Stage "Shadow" CJSNI Standard 2007-08 Achieved 2010-11 Desired Standard 
			 Data file received by PPS to date PPS decision issued 116 104 88 
		
	
	
		
			 Rates' Courts: Charge Cases—Adult Defendants 
			 Stage "Shadow" CJSNI Standard Achieved 2010-11 Desired Standard 
			 Data file received by PPS to date PPS decision issued 32 21 26 
		
	
	
		
			 Youth Courts: Charge Cases—Youth Defendants 
			 Stage "Shadow" CJSNI Standard Achieved 2010-11 Desired Standard 
			 Data file received by PPS to date PPS decision issued 31 26 20 
		
	
	
		
			 Youth Courts: Summons Cases—Youth Defendants 
			 Stage "Shadow CJSNI" Standard 2007/08 Achieved 2010/11 Desired Standard 
			 Data file received by PPS to date PPS decision issued 52 37 38

Prosecution: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions the Attorney-General has intervened in prosecution cases in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; in respect of which cases; whether they intend to remove that facility in the draft constitutional renewal Bill; and, if so, for what reasons.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Under the provisions of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland discharges his functions under the superintendence of the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland and is subject to the directions of the Attorney-General. It is through the power of supervision that I am responsible to Parliament for the actions of the director and, through him, the Public Prosecution Service. It is in the nature of supervision that I am kept informed of difficult, complex or sensitive cases and of matters relating to the effective functioning of the service. The director may seek my advice on individual cases and I may offer advice but the decision to prosecute, or not to prosecute, remains the director's unless I direct, in which case the decision becomes mine. The power to direct a prosecution decision has never been used since the creation of the office of director in 1972.
	In accordance with the 2002 Act, the power of supervision and direction over the director by the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland will lapse on the devolution of justice functions to the Assembly. There is no need, therefore, for it to be dealt with in the constitutional renewal Bill

Public Appointments

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what circumstances the Northern Ireland Office pays the national insurance and income tax of its appointees to public bodies.

Lord Rooker: If an individual carries out work for the Northern Ireland Office and she/he is considered by HM Revenue and Customs to be an employee or office holder, income tax and national insurance contributions are deducted at source from payments made on a pay-as-you-earn basis.

Public Prosecution Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What happens to Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service's case papers once a case is concluded; what is the access policy on case papers over 30 years old; what papers have been transferred to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and when; and by what rules access to them or their index is restricted.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: When a case is concluded, Public Prosecution Service (PPS) case papers are held in PPS storage in accordance with the PPS retention and disposal policy as agreed with the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland. Under this policy, files are destroyed after two years, 10 years or 20 years depending on the nature of the case and its seriousness. Some files are kept for longer periods where, for instance, life sentences have been imposed.
	A file becomes an "historical record" in the meaning given to it by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 at the end of the period of 30 years beginning with the year following that in which it was created. Access to all such records is governed by the provisions of Part VI of that Act.
	The Public Records Office holds a small number of miscellaneous, policy and practice files but, at the PRO's request, the PPS retains in its own custody individual case files.
	The rules governing access to historical files are set out in the Freedom of Information Act and are applied by the Public Record Office.

Republic of Ireland: Human Rights

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 7 May (WA 77) concerning human rights in the Republic of Ireland, on what basis and by whom it was considered that the answer could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Lord Rooker: The disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) is set by the Treasury and is currently £700. The cost of answering a PQ is the direct cost of civil servants' time in preparing answers for written PQs or producing the relevant data.
	The requested information is not collated centrally. To provide it would involve a manual trawl of a vast quantity of records, including minutes of meetings, ministerial advice and correspondence. This could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Roads: Dartford Crossing

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 12 June (WS 61-2), what estimate has been made of the average number of Dartford crossings made by residents who will become eligible for limited free crossings in the autumn.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We estimate that about 2.5 million crossings are made each year by residents who will become eligible for the local residents' discount scheme.

Schools: Spending per Pupil

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the average amount spent per primary school pupil in England and Wales in each year since 2001-02; and what is the figure in equivalent 1996-97 values.

Lord Adonis: The tables below provide the available information for England and Wales. The figures provided are not comparable for the reasons set out in the notes:
	England
	
		
			 School-based expenditure per pupil by local authority-maintained primary schools in England for 2001-02 to 2006-07 
			  Primary school-based expenditure1 per pupil2  
			  Cash terms (£) Real terms (1996-97 prices)5 (£) 
			 2001-02 2,480 2,220 
			 2002-033 4 2,530 2,190 
			 2003-04 2,750 2,320 
			 2004-05 2,910 2,390 
			 2005-06 3,150 2,530 
			 2006-076 3,360 2,620 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. School-based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home-to-school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.
	2. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending local authority-maintained primary schools and are drawn from the DCSF schools census adjusted to be on a financial-year basis.
	3. 2002-03 saw a break in the time series following the introduction of consistent financial reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is after the 2001-02 figures.
	4. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years include all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. In 2001-02 this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil. From 2002-03 onwards only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the 2002-03 total. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 2002-03, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
	5. Cash-terms figures are converted to 1996-97 prices using March 2008 gross domestic product deflators.
	6. Figures are as reported by local authorities as at 12 June 2008 and are rounded to the nearest £10. 2006-07 data remain provisional and subject to change by the local authority.
	7. Figures as reported by local authorities as at 12 June 2008.
	Wales
	
		
			 Expenditure on primary schools per pupil by local authority-maintained primary schools in Wales for 2001-02 to 2006-07 
			  Primary school based expenditure (a) per pupil (b)  
			  Cash terms (£) Real-terms 1996-97 prices (c) (£) 
			 2001-02 2,797 2,502 
			 2002-03 2,924 2,536 
			 2003-04 3,214 2,709 
			 2004-05 3,421 2,806 
			 2005-06 3,679 2,954 
			 2006-07 3,902 3,049 
		
	
	Notes:
	(a) The figures include all expenditure spend directly by the schools and also spent by the LEA on behalf of the schools.
	(b) The numbers of pupils are taken from the annual schools census taken at January each year. The figures have been adjusted to be on a financial-year basis.
	(c) Cash-terms figures are converted to 1996-97 prices using March 2008 gross domestic product deflators.
	(d) The available figures for Wales have a wider coverage than those for England.

Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many breaches of the law by foreign-registered heavy goods vehicles in 2007-08 resulted either in a fixed penalty notice or a court summons; and how many of these were successfully enforced.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: No fixed penalty notices or court summonses were issued by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to foreign-registered heavy goods vehicle drivers in 2007-08. However, VOSA did issue some 15,000 prohibition notices to prevent continued non-compliance with the law by foreign-registered vehicles.
	We have no figures for police activity, but we understand that the police do not collect separate statistics relating to nationality of offender or country of residence.